Monthly archives: November 2022

Heartbeat: Simba’s sniff saves life – dog detects cancer in colleague

When colleague Theresa Field’s dog started pawing at her chest, she thought he was just being affectionate.

But for two weeks puppy Simba, a cross boxer breed, wouldn’t leave her alone.

Eventually she felt around her breast area where the dog was snuggling into and discovered a lump. Knowing it could be serious Theresa, who works as an admin in occupational health and wellbeing, contacted her GP and was quickly diagnosed with breast cancer.

The mum-of-one, aged 50 said: “Simba is my superhero – I believe he’s saved my life.

“I had him for 10 months when he just began behaving differently around my body. He would jump up onto the sofa and start nudging my breast. I kept pushing him away but he was really insistent.

“He wouldn’t leave me alone. It was really out of the blue, so I did think it was strange. Simba had been trying to tell me something was really wrong for two weeks but initially I just thought he was after a bit of attention.”

She added: “Eventually I thought I’d better check as you hear these stories about dogs having a sixth sense, and as I felt around the area I discovered the lump.

“I’m so glad that he persevered – as if I had left it any longer my condition would have worsened.”

After finding the lump on 5 August, Theresa didn’t hesitate in booking an appointment with her GP and she was immediately referred to City Hospital’s rapid access clinic within the breast unit.

“I went along and had all the testing done with the results coming back really quickly,” she explained. “The clinic was amazing and the staff working there have been so supportive.”

Theresa will now undergo an operation to remove the lump and her left breast.

She added: “I never really thought about checking my breasts for lumps, but this shows you how important it is. I want to raise awareness around this so that women check themselves regularly. If you’ve got an animal and it starts acting strangely around your body, then please get checked out and don’t ignore it. I’d also urge women to attend their routine breast screening appointments as well.

“These last few weeks have been extremely difficult but imagine how much worse it could have been had I not been alerted to the lump so early on.”

Theresa will undergo a course of radiotherapy after her operation.

She added: “I’ll have Simba with me at home supporting me throughout which I’m so thankful for.”

Claire Murphy, Health Promotions Specialist, said: “We would urge everyone to regularly check their breasts for any changes and report any symptoms to your GP.

“Women registered with a GP will be invited for NHS breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71. Women aged over 71 can also attend breast screenings every three years, but they must self-refer by calling the screening office to book an appointment.

“Mammograms are performed by female mammographers who are trained to help you feel more comfortable and provide support with any questions or concerns you may have.

“As well as attending routine breast screening when ladies receive an invite, it is important to be breast aware and report any changes to their GP.”

PJs for patients – help us support our patients by putting PJs in the right place

As part of our plans to help improve the privacy and dignity of our patients, did you know after the Sandwell success we are now rolling the Trust owned Pyjamas at City for patients who need them?

Colleagues are reminded, pyjamas that have been sourced through the new scheme should be placed into two green bags and then placed in the blue tubs at Sandwell corridors and green tubs at City corridors. This ensures that the pyjamas can be washed and cleaned so that we have a fresh supply of pyjamas available for those who need them. Please don’t unnecessarily throw them in to clinical waste or mix with general linen.

Should you have any questions please email  aner.marcelo@nhs.net.

Christmas Sock Day: 9 December

Christmas is fast approaching, and while many of us are making plans for parties and presents, the charity has been busy making plans for the festive season. We celebrate many cultural and religious events at SWB, and this year we’re marking Christmas with a number of activities open to colleagues across the Trust.

We’ll be erecting our Christmas trees at the Birmingham Treatment Centre on the City site, and at Sandwell General Hospital and Rowley Regis Hospital. Inpatients on Christmas day will receive a gift funded by the charity and sourced by the Trust. We’re also encouraging colleagues to get involved in a Christmas decorating competition for wards. Each ward/department is only able to collect £30 once, which will be available from Friday 2 December. They’ll need to quote reference number #255626 along with their ward/department name, and return any receipts along with unspent monies to the cash office. Wards/departments will need to ensure they have not experienced a COVID-19 outbreak in the last 7 days before entering the competition. If they do experience a COVID-19 outbreak whilst decorations are on display, these will need to be taken down and disposed of safely.

We can’t have a Christmas jumper day due to cleanliness and uniform restrictions, but we can do one better – a Christmas sock day! On Friday 9 December, we invite colleagues to donate £2 to Your Trust Charity and don some Santa-approved socks to celebrate the yuletide in style and support the charity. Please support Your Trust Charity by clicking here – so they can do all this great work during the festive season.

Advanced practice framework

The advanced practice framework is to help professionals, managers and co-ordinating educational supervisors on how advanced practice (AP) roles can be utilised and maximised to deliver best patient outcomes and provide guidance on AP and trainee AP (TAP) governance to ensure a Trust wide consistent standards in development, training, supervision and post qualification support that is aligned with the latest national guidelines.

You can access the framework by clicking here.

For further information please email sajansathyan@nhs.net.

Clinical Research Network now accepting applications for improvement and innovation funding

The Clinical Research Network (CRN) are pleased to announce that they will be accepting applications for 2023/24 improvement and innovation strategic funding.

There will only be one stage of applications where you will provide an outline of the project and estimated costs only. If the panel decides that your project should be funded, a CRN WM senior leadership team member will work with you to develop a thorough project brief and full costings.

For further details please see attachments below:

• CRN Improvement and Innovation Strategic Funding Principles and Guidance
• CRN Bids – Summary
• Improvement and Innovation Strategic Funding Project Outline Template

more information please email carly.craddock@nihr.ac.uk. The closing date for applications is 6 January, 12pm. Project outline forms should be sent to ideas.crn-west-midlands@nihr.ac.uk.

National learning disabilities staff survey

NHS England and NHS Improvement are seeking your views to help improve the experience people with learning disabilities, autism or both have when using NHS services. Results will be used as part of the National Learning Disabilities Improvement Standards benchmarking.

The survey is easy to complete and will take around 10 minutes to answer. It can be completed by clicking here.

Note: The survey closes on 24 February.

Latest edition of Heartbeat now available

Please click here to read the November edition of Heartbeat!

This month, we’re marking the introduction of the cultural ambassador role into our human resources processes  with a guest column from Danielle Sewell, Deputy Convenor and Cultural Ambassador.

We’ve also marked a number of award wins – Janice Nelson’s Royal College of Nursing award, the inaugural Chief Registrar award and the alcohol care year’s Nursing Times Award.

Richard’s last word outlines the impact of the recent treasury budget on SWB, and you can learn more about upcoming Christmas activity in the Your Trust Charity article on page 32.

Happy reading!

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 25 November

Firstly, thank you – this week has been difficult and challenging for many of our services and teams. Whilst we gear up for what we are already seeing as an extremely pressured winter in the NHS, there are two easy things that you can do to protect yourself, your loved ones and your colleagues:

1. Get your flu jab
2. Get your COVID-19 vaccine

It is my very strong belief that all of us have a professional responsibility to do this. We won’t be seeking your compliance with offers of coffee and cake with money we don’t have. Instead, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to fit your vaccinations into your busy work time. The team will come out to you on request and will also be visiting those areas that are particularly under pressure. I sincerely believe that there is no excuse.

Staff absence due to ill health is having a big impact on our ability to safely staff our services.  Our staff absence rate is currently 2.5% higher than normal levels. Lots of people are absent due to coughs, colds and flu and we wish them a speedy recovery. As well as flu being a very nasty illness (and fatal in some cases) it also impacts on those who remain at work having to cover other people’s roles or juggle staffing to keep our services safe.

Getting vaccinated is always the right thing to do. Look out on Monday for a film from our Chief Medical Officer Dr Mark Anderson who will remind us all of the truly terrible experiences in the first year of the pandemic when the vaccines were not yet here. Vaccination has been the game changer in how the pandemic has progressed.  It will continue to be that game changer.

We all come to work to do a good job. Getting these essential vaccinations is one easy way for you to give of your best to those around you.

NHS Staff Survey closes today – don’t miss out on having your say

The latest NHS Staff Survey will close at 5pm today (Friday 25 November).

There are six chances to win £50 worth of vouchers and this year we have team level prizes too. Four teams with the most improved response rate compared to last year can expect every team member to win a £5 voucher to spend at any of our catering outlets.

The survey is sent to most colleagues to their NHS email address. It comes from insightandfeedback@iqvia.com and the email subject is NHS Staff Survey 2022 Invitation: Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

The organisation is committed to ensuring everyone has a good experience at work and to support that it is vital that colleagues tell us how they feel about working at SWB. When excellent staff experience is achieved, staff become inspired to be the best people they can be at work which in turn delivers the best patient care. To achieve excellent staff experience we must create an environment where staff can succeed, feel valued, supported, and encouraged.

If you have any queries or have not received your survey please contact Quality Health on 0800 783 1775 or helpline@quality-health.co.uk

The survey will close (today) 25 November at 5pm.

Do the double for England – get your flu and COVID booster vaccine

Boost your immunity this winter by getting your COVID and flu vaccinations

The occupational health and wellbeing team continue to offer vaccinations to colleagues across the Trust.

We’re now at the time of year when respiratory infection figures start to increase, with the possibility for a surge of COVID and seasonal flu. As in the previous year, all colleagues at our Trust will be able to protect themselves with a COVID-19 booster jab and a flu vaccination, ensuring they are fully protected.

You must have had two primary doses of either Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna. Your last vaccine must have been more than 91 days ago and you must be 18 years or over to meet the criteria. Flu vaccine being offered to SWB colleagues is cell-based quadrivalent influenza (QIVc).

Points to remember:

• You can have the flu and show no symptoms meaning you can be unknowingly spreading the virus to your family, friends and our patients.
• It’s important to have vaccinations as soon as possible, it can take up to two weeks for your body to build up good level of immunity.
• Our flu vaccines do not contain any porcine or egg ingredients.

This week the vaccination team are in Sandwell all week from 8:30am and are providing a clinic offering vaccinations for late shift colleagues on Thursday up until 8pm. 

Clinics are based at the following locations:

• Sandwell: The Berridge room, Courtyard Gardens
• City: first floor former outpatients area (above the Arches canteen)
• Rowley: Westwood Ward

For any departments that are struggling to leave their areas due to workload, the team are able to work with you to arrange a vaccinator to attend the department. To discuss this, managers should contact Cara Shelton on 07507 523924.

A schedule from November until the new year is available below.